In 2024, the mpox outbreak have raised a major concern as the cases have been increasing day by day across multiple regions🌍. This mpox is identified as a rare disease🦠 and has gained attention because it is spreading rapidly. This virus has impacted many countries and there is a large outbreak in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) according to the General Director of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. Recently WHO declares that the outbreak of Mpox in African countries is a global Health emergency🚑.
What is mpox disease ?
Mpox which was known as Monkeypox is a viral disease🤒 that is caused by mpox virus. It belongs to the orthopoxviral genus which is in the same family as smallpox. This virus was first identified in the year 1985 in laboratory monkeys and the first human case was reported📝 in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Key Points of Mpox:
Symptoms of Mpox:
It has flu-like symptoms such as fever🤒, headache, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, and respiratory symptoms such as sore throat, nasal congestion, or cough. People 👥with mpox get rashes that can be located on hands, chest, face, feet, or in mouth or near the genitals, like penis, testicles, labia, and vagina, and anus according to the CDC.
Transmission of Mpox:
This disease can be spread through direct contact🤝 with infectious body fluids and it can also be transmitted from animals to humans.
Incubation Period:
The incubation period for mpox is usually 7 to 14 days, but symptoms can appear anywhere from 5 to 21 days after exposure.
Treatment and Prevention:
Mpox can be treated by taking mpox vaccine💉 and the vaccine should be given within 4 days of contact with someone who has mpox or it also be given within up to 14 days if there are no symptoms of mpox said by WHO. People who have mpox should be treated away from other people. Many people with mpox recover within 2–4 weeks. During that time the person should stay home or in the hospital🏥 and take care of themselves.
Also Read: H9N2 Bird Flu: WHO Confirms New Human Case in Bangal
Cases of Mpox Outbreak:
Globally since the year 2022 the WHO has reported 📝99,176 cases and 208 deaths due to monkeypox from 116 countries. And after that total 30 cases were detected in India, with the last case in March 2024 according to The Hindu. As of 5 August, South Africa has reported 24 mpox cases and total 3 deaths🪦. In 24 cases out 22 were reported between 8 May and 6 July 2024 according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
List of countries with mpox:
This list of counties with mpox outbreak🦠 is according to CDC:
Here are some countries with large impact:
Location | Total Cases | Death |
DRC | 27,000 | 1100 |
Brazil | 11,212 | 16 |
Spain | 9,400 | 8 |
France | 5,200 | 0 |
Colombia | 4249 | 0 |
Mexico | 4124 | 34 |
UK | 12,000 | 11 |
Peru | 3875 | 20 |
USA | 39,500 | 60 |
Note: The provides data is of January 1, 2022 to June 2024 and it is are provided for situational awareness📢 and subject to change.